Where does “jerky” come from?

Jerky derives from English jerk, which comes from Quechua ch'arki, a dried meat preparation, with the English diminutive suffix -y added.

jerky (English): Characterized by physical jerking; Having the...

Definitions

  1. Characterized by physical jerking; Having the...

Ancestry of “jerky”, step by step

jerky traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.

via English jerk

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishjerkA sudden, often uncontrolled movement, especially...
2Middle Englishyerksudden motion
3Old Englishġearcactive, quick; ready, active, quick

via Spanish charqui

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Spanishcharquijerky
2Quechuach'arkithin, wretched; miserly, stingy, miserable, mean;...

Words derived from “jerky”

Every word from Old English ġearc →Every word from Middle English yerk →Every word from English jerk →